Nobody likes staring mortality in the face. Especially when the internet literally shows us these fades step by step, page by page, year by year.

It is very hard. We were there when all of these bands first began, and here they are old men, some of whom (thinking especially of the ghastly Robert Plant) now bear a faint (if any) resemblance to their younger self.

And I'm not a teenager anymore either.

No less for me, chica. I friggin' hate this getting old thing. And seeing my favorite bands fade away - by necessity, choice, or force - isn't fun either. As is watching all these TV and movie actors we grew up with, kick the bucket.

The 'net has given us a wide window into literally watching our age turn to dust. It's unsettling. Informative. But unsettling.

Plant still brings the goods, chica! Just saw him live a month or two ago. Outstanding stuff. He looks pretty good for a geezer.

Plant isn't even close to bringing what Rush can still bring. Years of cigarette smoking destroyed that once beautiful voice.

Honestly, there are about a hundred other Rush songs I'd rather hear in LA than Losing It.

LOL, I honestly I have no idea why that song is so revered. And I love Signals. It's my fave Rush album. There are at least 5 other Signals tracks I'd rather hear than Losing It.

I have heard rumblings that the Forum gig will get an outta the blue shocker one-time-only deep cut. I've even heard what it might be. Hint. C.P.

As usual he is talking out his arse.

I'm curious though to see if he's got this one right. Overall he's being a real killjoy here on the forum

Am I?

Well, the good news is, we only have a few days left before these premises become a lot less crowded. I won't be coming back after Friday evening. No need for visits to a fan forum after Saturday. So breathe easier, ye keepers of the flame. Your online hopes will soon be unfettered with nasty realists.

Bard, I know you think you know it all, but sometimes you state things so bluntly without really telling what you (may) know. Let those of us who still want to dream in your opinion just dream That's also what being a fan is about. I know that sooner or later they'll 'quit their jobs'. But if two out of three are not completley done yet who knows what might be in store. With or without Neil in tow

And, what you're leaving TRF after Friday evening? You just give up? It's still fun to hang around here Yes, even when they're done (touring).

Alex is playing in pain. Rest assured, he'll be taking a nice long break from playing the guitar. It's not just Neil that wants to gracefully step out of the spotlights.

1 of 3 will be interested in recording. A solo record from Dirk is very probable. There may even be a humble club tour behind it.

I don't really see it as blunt. It's simple realism. Admittedly, I get impatient with the fanboyism, that's on me. But after reading so much self gratuitous opinions (these 'hopes' are often founded in seemingly base human greed - i.e., "I want more Rush and I don't care if they want/need to retire or not"), it gets old. Wish the Canucks well and if they decide to come out in a few years for a couple nights at Madison Square Garden, great. But expecting more touring is pretty selfish, given what they've already given to the fanbase. Far more than the usual. Rush fans are a spoiled lot. You want to be a really frustrated fan? Try heralding Van Halen. Or the Police. Or the Kinks. Or Guns n Roses. One might rightfully say that the only two bands on the planet who've consistently given to the fanbase time and time again consistently for the last 30 years are Rush and U2.

I definitely don't know much. Much less know 'it all.' But I know Rush's last official touring show is on Saturday.

And no, I don't stick around message boards when bands are retiring. Two of my three favorite bands are retiring this year. It's a sign of the times. My era is passing. That's why so many people are resistant. Nobody likes staring mortality in the face. Especially when the internet literally shows us these fades step by step, page by page, year by year.

I'm not hoping or dreaming that they'll do more big / full scale tours. I'm not like those fans you describe in your post. I'm hoping that they'll do is what Al & Ged have already mentioned themselves: some one-off show here and there. And maybe just maybe surprise us European fans with 4 of 5 nights at the O2 in London That's no real tour, just a return trip across the Atlantic.

Bottom line is I just hope that not all of them are done being a (performing) musician and that they will perform every now and again. Solo, as a duo or as a three piece band. I'd love to see a Ged solo show one day btw

And why say goodbye to a forum like this? Yes, it may be a less crowded house in the future, but look at how many folks are still active fans of Zappa for instance. Here in The Netherands a Zappa day has been organized twice recently and it's been a succes. Just sayin'

Neil is done touring. You can wager on that. It's possible he might be talked into a one night stand here and there - almost certainly Los Angeles more than anywhere else, but even that is an outside chance at best.

Alex is near done. It hurts his hands to play at the arena level. For obvious reasons. He'd certainly come back for a one-off here and there.

Ged will record. In what capacity and manner, we will find out soon enough.

This pretty much sums it up for me too. Although I think you're being a bit rough on all the fans that are holding on to the slightest hope that the band will tour again. They just don't want to say goodbye. Denial is one of the first stages...haha

But calling them selfish is a little over the top. We are all selfish aren't we? (Ayn Rand reference there) Some fans are just wanting the band they've loved to come back. The finality of all this is tough for many of us to deal with

But, yeah, Neil had to be talked into the last few tours and this one more than ever. He's done. He stopped enjoying a long time ago. Now he's in physical pain and has a chance to raise a daughter full time. It's a no brainer for him. Alex's issues have probably just taken a bit of the guilt away from Neil since it's no longer 1 versus 2.

Back to the LA show, I would agree with the poster that mentioned all the stars coming out. I'd expect a ton. There are a lot of big name Rush fans in Hollywood and in music and most are in LA. Gotta believe it will be a red carpet event in a way...

Nobody likes staring mortality in the face. Especially when the internet literally shows us these fades step by step, page by page, year by year.

It is very hard. We were there when all of these bands first began, and here they are old men, some of whom (thinking especially of the ghastly Robert Plant) now bear a faint (if any) resemblance to their younger self.

And I'm not a teenager anymore either.

No less for me, chica. I friggin' hate this getting old thing. And seeing my favorite bands fade away - by necessity, choice, or force - isn't fun either. As is watching all these TV and movie actors we grew up with, kick the bucket.

The 'net has given us a wide window into literally watching our age turn to dust. It's unsettling. Informative. But unsettling.

Plant still brings the goods, chica! Just saw him live a month or two ago. Outstanding stuff. He looks pretty good for a geezer.

Plant isn't even close to bringing what Rush can still bring. Years of cigarette smoking destroyed that once beautiful voice.

Plant still brings the goods for an older fella. Catch him live, see what I mean.

Back to the LA show, I would agree with the poster that mentioned all the stars coming out. I'd expect a ton. There are a lot of big name Rush fans in Hollywood and in music and most are in LA. Gotta believe it will be a red carpet event in a way...

Oh, definitely we can expect to see some celebs in the first ten rows at the Forum.

Nobody likes staring mortality in the face. Especially when the internet literally shows us these fades step by step, page by page, year by year.

It is very hard. We were there when all of these bands first began, and here they are old men, some of whom (thinking especially of the ghastly Robert Plant) now bear a faint (if any) resemblance to their younger self.

And I'm not a teenager anymore either.

No less for me, chica. I friggin' hate this getting old thing. And seeing my favorite bands fade away - by necessity, choice, or force - isn't fun either. As is watching all these TV and movie actors we grew up with, kick the bucket.

The 'net has given us a wide window into literally watching our age turn to dust. It's unsettling. Informative. But unsettling.

Plant still brings the goods, chica! Just saw him live a month or two ago. Outstanding stuff. He looks pretty good for a geezer.

Plant isn't even close to bringing what Rush can still bring. Years of cigarette smoking destroyed that once beautiful voice.

Geoff Tate was a smoker too. With those pipes. Why, for crying out loud, why?

Nobody likes staring mortality in the face. Especially when the internet literally shows us these fades step by step, page by page, year by year.

It is very hard. We were there when all of these bands first began, and here they are old men, some of whom (thinking especially of the ghastly Robert Plant) now bear a faint (if any) resemblance to their younger self.

And I'm not a teenager anymore either.

No less for me, chica. I friggin' hate this getting old thing. And seeing my favorite bands fade away - by necessity, choice, or force - isn't fun either. As is watching all these TV and movie actors we grew up with, kick the bucket.

The 'net has given us a wide window into literally watching our age turn to dust. It's unsettling. Informative. But unsettling.

Plant still brings the goods, chica! Just saw him live a month or two ago. Outstanding stuff. He looks pretty good for a geezer.

Plant isn't even close to bringing what Rush can still bring. Years of cigarette smoking destroyed that once beautiful voice.

Geoff Tate was a smoker too. With those pipes. Why, for crying out loud, why?

Nobody likes staring mortality in the face. Especially when the internet literally shows us these fades step by step, page by page, year by year.

It is very hard. We were there when all of these bands first began, and here they are old men, some of whom (thinking especially of the ghastly Robert Plant) now bear a faint (if any) resemblance to their younger self.

And I'm not a teenager anymore either.

No less for me, chica. I friggin' hate this getting old thing. And seeing my favorite bands fade away - by necessity, choice, or force - isn't fun either. As is watching all these TV and movie actors we grew up with, kick the bucket.

The 'net has given us a wide window into literally watching our age turn to dust. It's unsettling. Informative. But unsettling.

Plant still brings the goods, chica! Just saw him live a month or two ago. Outstanding stuff. He looks pretty good for a geezer.

Plant isn't even close to bringing what Rush can still bring. Years of cigarette smoking destroyed that once beautiful voice.

Geoff Tate was a smoker too. With those pipes. Why, for crying out loud, why?

Maybe one surprise will be that everyone in the RTB video will come on stage and lip-synch the rap in person. Seriously, a lot of those guys will at least be attending the show, I would think. Rudd, Segal, Morello, Dinklage, who else?

Maybe one surprise will be that everyone in the RTB video will come on stage and lip-synch the rap in person. Seriously, a lot of those guys will at least be attending the show, I would think. Rudd, Segal, Morello, Dinklage, who else?

I would imagine quite a few rock stars of their own accord will be in attendance as well.

Anybody who's anybody in the industry and respects Rush's place in history will almost certainly be at the Forum Saturday night.

Maybe one surprise will be that everyone in the RTB video will come on stage and lip-synch the rap in person. Seriously, a lot of those guys will at least be attending the show, I would think. Rudd, Segal, Morello, Dinklage, who else?

I would imagine quite a few rock stars of their own accord will be in attendance as well.

Anybody who's anybody in the industry and respects Rush's place in history will almost certainly be at the Forum Saturday night.

Maybe Dave Grohl will be headbanging front row after he picks up those $10K tickets that are still sitting out there.

Maybe one surprise will be that everyone in the RTB video will come on stage and lip-synch the rap in person. Seriously, a lot of those guys will at least be attending the show, I would think. Rudd, Segal, Morello, Dinklage, who else?

I would imagine quite a few rock stars of their own accord will be in attendance as well.

Anybody who's anybody in the industry and respects Rush's place in history will almost certainly be at the Forum Saturday night.

Maybe Dave Grohl will be headbanging front row after he picks up those $10K tickets that are still sitting out there.

Unless they're on tour, I'd expect several members of Metallica, Guns n' Roses, the Eagles, Tenacious D, and a number of famous drummers to be in attendance.

Dave will definitely not have to pay 10k to get good seats - or backstage - to the last Rush gig.